Trauma Exposure, PTSD Symptoms, and Presenting Clinical Problems Among Male Perpetrators of Intimate Partner Violence

Objective: This study explores trauma exposure, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and diagnosis, and PTSD symptom associations with key presenting problems in male intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetrators. The goal is to elucidate the implications of trauma and PTSD for understanding the presenting clinical problems of partner violent men. Method: Male IPV perpetrators (n = 293) at a community-based agency completed assessments of their past traumatic event exposures; current PTSD symptoms; depression; alcohol problems; illicit drug use; relationship problems; and perpetration of physical assault, psychological aggression, injury, sexual coercion, and general (nonrelationship) violence. Results: Seventy-seven percent of participants reported past trauma exposure, 62% reported multiple trauma exposures, and 11% screened positive for a probable diagnosis of PTSD. PTSD symptom levels were significantly correlated with depression, alcohol and drug use, general violence, and all indicators of relationship maladjustment and abuse. In multivariate analyses, PTSD symptoms uniquely predicted relationship dysfunction and relationship abuse over and above the influence of alcohol problems, drug use, and depression, and all 3 PTSD symptom clusters had some unique associations with relationship abuse scales. Conclusion: Trauma exposure and PTSD symptoms should be routinely assessed in IPV perpetrator treatment. More research is needed to determine whether PTSD symptoms influence treatment response and to investigate trauma-informed interventions for this population.